Cheesy Mexican Beef and Bean Bake Recipe

Craving a simple, satisfying meal that explodes with cheesy Mexican flavors?

This Cheesy Mexican Beef and Bean Bake is your answer—it's unbelievably easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Get ready to discover how to create this comforting, flavorful dish that will quickly become a family favorite.

Ingredients

To whip up this cheesy, Mexican beef and bean bake, you'll need a few key ingredients – let's gather 'em!

First, grab 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 'cause you'll need it to start with cooking the veggies. Then, wanna chop up one red onion and mince two cloves of garlic – get ready to smell something amazing!

Next, dice a green bell pepper into little cubes – about half an inch, give or take. Okay, get ready for the main event: 500g (that's about 1 pound) of beef mince. Also, snag one and a half cups of your favorite shredded cheese, any good melting cheese will work!

Oh, and don't forget a can of red kidney beans– make sure to drain 'em. And 1 cup of tomato passata — sounds fancy, but it's just smooth tomato puree! You will also add pickled jalapenos if you'd like. This dish is inspired by the flavors of a beef burritos recipe, but baked instead of rolled.

Gather your spices! Cumin powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, cayenne pepper. Add salt!

Instructions

Alright, let's get this bake on! First, I'm preheating my oven to 200°C – that's 400°F – or 180°C if you've got a fan oven.

Next, I'm grabbing my cast-iron skillet, or any oven-proof pan will do, and heating up 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. I'm tossing in a finely chopped red onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1/2-inch-cubed green (or any color!) capsicum. I'm cooking them for 3 minutes.

Now, I'll add 500g of beef mince, breaking it up as it cooks, until you don't see any raw meat – nobody wants that! I'll dump in 1 1/2 teaspoons of cumin, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook for 1 minute.

Lastly, I'm adding 400g drained kidney beans and 1 cup of tomato passata, let it simmer. To achieve a similar saucy taste to enchilada sauce, consider using a blend of tomato puree and chili powder. I'll scatter in 1/3 cup of jalapenos, and 1 1/2 cup cheese. Then, bake for 15 minutes!

Recipe Notes

With serving sizes, this recipe will serve 5 to 6 people depending on how you serve it – as either burrito or taco stuffing; it will easily serve 6 if not 7 once you factor in the toppings. If you're dunking corn chips, it will probably serve 5 – chips are less bulky than tortillas!

And don't just think beef – chicken, turkey, pork, or even lamb work great! Passata is like a really thick, smooth tomato puree. If you can't find it, crushed tomato or tomato sauce will do just fine.

Pickled jalapeños are great, adding some tang and heat! But skip them if you're not into that spicy kick. For cheese, any good melty cheese will work. Mozzarella's great, but add a little parmesan for extra flavor – mozzarella doesn't have *that* much flavor.

Leftovers? We love them. They'll keep for 3 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.

Serving Suggestions

I wouldn't worry much about the specifics – I am giving you ideas! Think of this cheesy bake as the star of your Mexican fiesta.

Scoop it generously into bowls. Grab some crunchy corn chips—they're perfect for dunking! Or, warm up some tortillas—for tacos or burritos. You will also want to think of what you'd like as far as "fixings".

Get some cool sour cream, fresh coriander, and either guacamole or creamy avocado sauce, or both because who's watching! Some restaurant style salsa or pico de gallo would really punch it up, too – you'll find the contrasts in temperature, textures, and tastes will really make this shine!

I'm keen for hearing how you do it. Experiment – it's all about having fun with food, isn't it?

Nutritional Information

Now that we've covered serving, let's explore into what's inside this yummy dish! I'm talking about the nutritional information, of course!

Per serving – assuming we're splitting this into six portions – you're looking at around 440 calories. Not bad, right? You'll also get 19 grams of carbs, 28 grams of protein (yay, muscles!), and 28 grams of fat.

Let's break it down even further. We're talking 12 grams of saturated fat, but hey, everything in moderation! Plus, you're getting a decent dose of vitamins – Vitamin A and C – and minerals like calcium and iron.

There's also a good chunk of sodium – almost 1000mg, that's 43% – so keep that in mind if you are watching that sorta thing!